New Cruiser 5er CF30Qb

[Jr66]

We have a new CF30QB coming. My problem is I don't own a truck to pull yet. In the brochure it says hitch weight 1840. SO to stay under GVWR do you take your truck weight + hitch weight + passengers + cargo to stay under your GVWR? I was looking at 2006 3500 Mega Cab Diesel.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) [i] = 9900 lbs

Payload [i] = 2582 lbs

Curb Weight [i] = 7318 lbs

Curb Weight Front/Rear = 4339 lbs/4339 lbs

GAWR Front/Rear [i] = 5200 lbs/6200 lbs

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) [i] = 21000 lbs



Does this mean I will be over manufactures tolerances?



Anyone own this model that has actual weight of trailer?

[Hamops]

To give you an example at the kind of real weights that you need to be concerned about, I'll transcribe the weights of our CF30SK and truck weighed at a CAT scale.



Truck only

Steer axle - 3946#

Drive axle - 3152#



Truck & trailer

Steer axle - 3813#

Drive axle - 4960#

Trailer axle - 8267#



So what does it all mean.

The weight of the truck only is 3946 + 3152 = 7098#

The weight of the truck & trailer is 3813 + 4960 + 8267 = 17040#

The weight of the truck with the trailer hooked up is 3813 + 4960 = 8773#

The dead weight ofour loaded trailer is17040 - 7098 = 9942#

The weight of the kingpin on the hitch is 4960 - 3152 = 1808#



So now to try an answer your questions from the information that you provided.



It's very unlikely that you'll be over the manufactures specifications unless you overload your trailer to greater than it's 12000# GVRW.



When estimating weights, you must consider gross weights of the any trailer and not dry weights because they mean nothing to anyone except a trailer salesman. Your trailer has a GVWR of 12000#. For that you need to estimate a kingpin weight of 20% or 2400#. The likelihood that you'll ever load your trailer to 12000# is remote. With all the junk that gets put into the trailer, you are probably looking at 10000 to 10500# dead weight for the trailer which would equate to a kingpin weight of 1900 to 2100# at the worst.



Looking at my situation, my truck has a GVWR of 9200# and when I'm pulling the trailer I'm sitting about 400# below that limit. Note: if I had a 4X4 setup, then I likely to be overweight.



Hope this helps.

[Jr66]

So.... Don't you then add 2100 to the actual vehicle weight(7100)+ passengers to equal your GVW? This GVW should be less than than your GVWR of 9200#. If I carry a majority of my weight at the back of my trailer and keep only 12 - 15% on my hitch is that allowed if I stay under my max my max trailer weight. Trailer loaded is 11000 x 15%= 1650.

1650 + 7100 = 7750 That means passengers can only weigh 450#.



Am I thinking correctly?

[rcflyer]

Be carefull about lowering the pin weight. 20% is ideal but many do go as low as 15%. A tail heavy trailer can be a handfull if not down right dangerous.

[Hamops]

Originally Posted by Jr66

So.... Don't you then add 2100 to the actual vehicle weight(7100)+ passengers to equal your GVW? This GVW should be less than than your GVWR of 9200#. If I carry a majority of my weight at the back of my trailer and keep only 12 - 15% on my hitch is that allowed if I stay under my max my max trailer weight. Trailer loaded is 11000 x 15%= 1650.
1650 + 7100 = 7750 That means passengers can only weigh 450#.

Am I thinking correctly?

First,DO NOTtry to load your trailer to lower the kingpin weight.As previously mentioned, it'llmake yourdriving,a nerveracking experience. Ideally your trailer kingpinweight should be 20% of the trailers loaded dead weight,which will mean for you aweight of about 2100 to 2200#. You'll notice by my previous post, my kingpin weight is running slightly over 18%. I didn't load the trailer in any special way to get that result.



This gets kind of convoluted but you are essentially correct about your logic, but you really won't know until you weight your setup at a CAT scale. You need to weight the truck, loaded with a full fuel tank,passengers, and any other stuff you'll carry in it. That weight needs to be deducted from the GVWR of 9900# to give you anavailable kingpin weight. For example, if the weight of the truck is around 7800# then you'll have 2100# available to be under the GVWR.



I can't say that you won't exceed the truck specifications, but I feel reasonably confident that it will work out fine with capacity to spare. When you get everything together, weigh your rig at a CAT scale to ensure that you are ok.



If you find that you're close or over a limit, there are ways to adjust ofit. The main thing to remove is weight, so forget abouthauling a cord offirewood, or a big heavy barbequeor tell the mother-in-law that there'sno room in the truck for her. The old ruleoftravellingabout taking more money and less luggage will also work here and it still doesn't stop you from loading your trailer with all theitems and foodstuffs of a normal household.

Edited by: Hamops

[BDLuke]

I can provide you acomparison since my setup is similar to what you are considering. As George so expertly stated, if you don't pack the entire house you'll be fine.I haven't had any issues towing or stopping.Beenup and down I/75 through TN and the truck never kicked into O/D and cruised downhill without hittingthe brakes. (not intending to compare trucks)Your camper can sleep 10, I can only seat 5 in my truck!







The rear garage is great storage,I can get four bikes back there. Trick is to theturn handle bars 90 degrees.



Have fun!

[Jr66]

Thanks Guys,



I'm looking at what your driving now Bob.



What do you get for mileage with your truck?



What is the weight of your truck? The book says 6308#



Thanks JeffEdited by: Jr66

[BDLuke]

Mileage: 18 - 19MPG Empty 10-12MPG Towing the Camper. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />

Stock - no aftermarket chip



I think the weight your book says is about right.

GVW: 9,900 LBS.

[gtoguy1967]

Bob, How many miles are on your truck ? Your empty MPG seems a little on the low side, I have done 21+ mpg and I have 50,000 miles on my truck. Your towing is in line with mine and I think I could do 13-14 mpg but I drive a little faster than most do I would guess.



My truck is a 2004 .

[BDLuke]

34,000

I have the 2006 Duramax LBZ (360 HP 650LB-FT torque) Could that account for the difference in our MPG?



I found a good white paper on the LBZ <a href="http://www.thedieselpage.com/duramax/2006enginenewsrelease.htm" target="_blank">http://www.thedieselpage.com/duramax...ewsrelease.htm

</A>



Do you think my MPG will increase a bit as the motor wears in some more?

[artgpo]

I tow a 2010 CF31QB with an '09 Silverado 2500HD Duramax Crew Cab long bed. The pin weight is about 1,700 lbs. The actual weight of the RV with some things on board is 8,120 as weighed on a certified scale. I believe the tow capacity of my truck to be 14,500 lbs. The fully loaded RV is under 12,000 lbs. While I have not traveled all that much since buying the coach I have taken a trip of 1,400 miles and one of about 900 miles. So far there are no difficulties. The truck handles the coach with no problems.



With the truck empty, two adults on board and 70 mph the mpg is 20. When towing the mpg is 9 - 11. I have a little over 9,000 miles on the truck.



The 2011 2500 and 3500 Duramax will have increased tow capacity with the 3500 rated at 20 k for towing. A better frame and higher engine torque are the reason for the increased towing performance.

[salda01]

JR,

I'm towing a '08 CF30QB with a '07 F250 SB Diesel and I can tell you in the approx. 10,000 miles I have towed it over the last 2 years we have been completely fine using a 3/4 ton truck. We have been through the hills of Tennessee and the hills of South Dakota. Even with adults bikes on the bike rack using the Crossroad installed hitch, I haven"t had issues with sway or driving stress.

If I recall correctly the Dodge Mega cab might have have a smaller bed / wheel base than the other mfg's so you may have clearance issues when turning and or reduced trailer size. Something check or invest in a Super Glide hitch.

My mileage has been 17-20 on the highway and as low as 9-12 when towing. Many factors come into play with towing mileage wind, terrain, speed, etc.

Enjoy.
Edited by: salda01

[Jr66]

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Â*

I think the weight your book says is about right.Â*



Bob



You have any trouble towing with your set up? I found a truck just like it and I want to buy it.



Do you know what your actual weight of your vehicle is?

[BDLuke]

I have no issues andplenty of power. I am also using a Prodigy brake controller thatworks very well. The only thing I would say is this truck has a very long wheel base and the 4X4 has a wide turning radius. Other than that, it's a great ride. Haven't had any mechanical issues either. (knock, knock!)



Sorry, I don't have the actualweight. I never took it to a scale because the camper towed so wellfully loaded, I never felt the need.